I could not close the deal with my brother in Florida...

[Richardo]

...he won't vote for Kerry. But he DID vote for all Dems in the Senate and Representative races. Go figure.

I pressed him about ONE thing Bush has done right and all he could say was he got a job, and a modest tax cut. (He's a public school teacher :eyes:) I bought up NCLB underfunding, the fact that he's spent his tax cut many times over on gasoline, all to no avail.

Sorry, gang, but he was not going to be convinced - plus it's a moot point since he voted last week.

So Floridians, please get out an extra Kerry vote to cancel out my brother's. ;)

[crispini]

1. He's a public school teacher and he thinks

NCLB is OK? Jeez, that's amazing. Most of the teachers I know call it "No school left standing."

[Richardo]

5. Blows my mind, too...

...he's actually a pretty intelligent guy but has been uber conservative most of his adult life (I mean Hannity-style).

He got into teaching as a "fall back" career after being in corporate HR, so he doesn't have the innate progressive mindset that a lot of teachers do.

Actually, the fact that he voted for Dems in the Congressional races is real progress - we'll have to take it in incremental "baby steps" with him.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. UGH. Schools should not be run like corporations. NCLB is

just despicable.

I hope your brother doesn't feel too badly when Kerry mops the floor with his guy.

[Richardo]

13. I hope we get a chance to find out how bad he'll feel ;-)

:D

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. :^D

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. You have FAILED us! The penalty is excommunication!!!!

Naw, just kidding. It's cool. You can lead a jackass to water but you can't make him drink. (Saying edited for appropriateness.)

[babylonsister]

One bro in NC, one in SC, both voting for ShrubCo

and there is no way they'll change. So, please cancel their votes in these states as well!

[IdaBriggs]

26. Send them to www.invisibleida.com

1) 9/11 & OUR SAFETY: Prior to 9/11 George W. Bush dismantled our existing anti-terrorism systems (http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL30938.pdf - pg 6), ignored warnings of impending terrorist attacks (http://www.cnn.com/2004/images/04/10/whitehouse.pdf, http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2002/05/wh051602.html, http://www.9-11commission.gov/hearings/hearing8/staff_statement_8.pdf - pgs 9-10), and tried to cut the FBI counter-terrorism budget by $65 Million (12%) (http://www.americanprogress.org/atf/cf/%7BE9245FE4-9A2B-43C7-A521-5D6FF2E06E03%7D/FY03ASHCROFT.PDF).

2) ABORTION: George W. Bush does not believe abortion laws should contain excepts for the life or health of the mother (http://debates.org/pages/trans2004c.html), which means 2% of all pregnancies, being ectopic, become automatic death sentences (http://my.webmd.com/hw/being_pregnant/hw144923.asp). Also, abortions have INCREASED during George W. Bush’s tenure as President (http://sev.prnewswire.com/magazines/20041013/DCW06813102004-1.html).

3) UNDERCOVER INTELLIGENCE: George W. Bush's administration has publicly identified two undercover CIA operatives (which is considered treason), one a specialist in “weapons of mass destruction” (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030714.shtml, http://www.commondreams.org/scriptfiles/views03/1010-12.htm) and the other an Al-Qaeda mole (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2004/08/10/leak_of_qaeda_suspect_name_criticized/), but George W. Bush doesn’t know which of his “trusted advisors” did it, so no one has been fired. But George W. Bush has testified (with the help of a personal criminal attorney (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B11FB3E550C708CDDAF0894DC404482)) in front of a Grand Jury on the subject.

4) CAMPAIGN SMEARS: George W. Bush's campaign has participated in one of the worst smears ever perpetuated in presidential politics by trying to paint a decorated combat veteran as a “traitorous communist” – Ken Cordier, “Veterans for Bush” (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/21/edwards.swiftboat/index.html); Benjamin Ginsber, Campaign Lawyer (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/25/ginsberg.swiftboat/index.html, http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2004_08/004571.php); Robert Perry / Karl Rove, Financial Contributions (http://www.misleader.org/daily_mislead/Read.asp?fn=df08252004.html); Admiral William Schacht, $40 Million Man (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/227267p-195132c.html, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47542-2004Aug30.html); All Ties to Bush/Cheney Campaign (http://nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/08/19/politics/campaign/20040820_SWIFT_GRAPH.html); and POW “Stars” & Their Public Lies (http://www.invisibleida.com/#Suffering%20POWs, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5962170/) -- who apparently escaped detection while publicly testifying “war is bad” (http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0438/turse.php) before Congress on national television and having been a public figure for the last thirty-five years.

5) DEFICITS: George W. Bush has wracked up record setting deficits (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041014/ts_nm/economy_budget_dc_4) and raided the social security trust to pay for it (http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=4985&sequence=2).

6) KEEPING US SAFE: George W. Bush keeps confusing “spending money” (which goes to his corporate cronies and Washington lobbyists) with “making America safer” when 95% of the containers coming into this country still aren’t being inspected (http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/dem_plan_030905.pdf - pg 4), 8000+ illegal aliens are crossing the borders daily (http://debates.org/pages/trans2004d.html), an airline “do not fly list” targets musicians and politicians instead of terrorists (http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/dem_plan_030905.pdf - pg 3, http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/0/545804498FEAC1D080256F3800599191!opendocument), and a huge chunk of our National Guard and Military Reserves are currently overseas (http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/opedstory1019WIRAQLETS.html).

7) OUR TROOPS: George W. Bush threatened to VETO a supplemental spending bill for the Troops in Iraq (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,100777,00.html) unless it was "a gift to Iraq" and included a $27 BILLION “slush fund” for Halliburton. George W. Bush has cut services for veterans (http://www.invisibleida.com/#Cut%20Services%20for%20Veterans), left National Guard and Military Reserve families with no access to insured health care (http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/local/10036787.htm), and presided over the largest loss of military personnel since the Vietnam War (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.htm).

8) IRAQ: George W. Bush was wrong about Iraq being an imminent threat; they had no weapons of mass destruction (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-03-02-un-wmd_x.htm), and were unable to prove it (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-02-04-saddam-interview_x.htm) because of corruption within the “Oil for Food” program (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6214647/site/newsweek/). They had refused to support Al-Qaeda and had nothing to do with September 11, 2001 (http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/96543/1/3319, http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm - Sec 10.3). And the "mass graves" were debunked by Tony Blair (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1263830,00.html ) (the English Prime Minister).

9) ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC HEALTH: George W. Bush's environmental record is best described as “disastrous” (http://www.sierraclub.com/sierra/200409/sins.asp) and global climate change (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/30/science/earth/30arctic.html?oref=login) is getting worse. Meanwhile, what he’s done to the meat inspectors at the USDA (http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0102-06.htm, http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0723-02.htm) is nearly unbelievable. (At least five people in New Jersey are dead from “mad cow” (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/28/earlyshow/contributors/melindamurphy/main614154.shtml) as of this writing, while deadly e-coli and listeria outbreaks are on the rise (http://www.commondreams.org/scriptfiles/views03/1222-11.htm, http://my.webmd.com/content/article/50/40445.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}) due to the “new rules” regarding fecal matter on meat.)

10) IN GENERAL: George W. Bush has been unable to capture Osama bin Laden in three years (who is still making videos) (http://slate.msn.com/id/2108921/), despite a world wide manhunt and “doesn’t think about him much anymore” (press conference from Feb? 2004). George W. Bush will not admit to errors or mistakes (press conference Feb? 2004, 2nd Presidential Debate). George W. Bush really believes everything in Iraq is going well (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6090706/). George W. Bush allowed AK-47s back on our streets (http://www.invisibleida.com/#AK-47s), didn’t fund the 100,000 COPS program (http://www.invisibleida.com/#COPS%20Program), and hasn't done anything to fix the rising cost of healthcare (http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a0.U_8eEIUf8&refer=us). He’s either a nice guy who isn’t in touch with reality, or he’s a self-serving liar, neither of which makes a good president, but all of this is beside the point because he needs everyone to ignore reality so he can get re-elected!


More Useful Information

100 Facts and 1 Opinion: The Non-Arguable Case Against the Bush Administration: http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20041108&s=facts
"People of Faith for Kerry": http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/Other+News/2004102830
Republicans for Kerry: http://www.republicansforkerry.org/
Repent Nader Voters: http://www.repentantnadervoter.com/
President Bush: Flip-Flopper In Chief: http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=118263
"Forget Bush: Its His Supporting Cast that REALLY Deserves the Boot": http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=17635
The Document Sean Hannity Doesn't Want You To Read: http://www.propagandamatrix.com/articles/september2004/230904seanhannity.htm
VotingCatholic.org: http://www.votingcatholic.org/
26 Free Videos Online: http://www.independentmediasource.com/video.htm

[Polly Glot]

3. Did his property taxes, gasoline taxes, etc go up in inverse

proportion to his tax cut like so many of us?

At least he voted to get Dems into congress, we need those votes too!

Anyway I feel for ya, I still can't get my husband to vote for Kerry but at least he won't vote for Bush. He insists they're both evil corporate puppets. He'll probably go Libertarian.

[mellomel]

4. :(

He's a public school teacher in Florida and he didn't vote for Kerry? Is he a new optimistic teacher? No disrespect to your brother, but... I find it disheartening that anyone can be an educator and not put their support behind Kerry. Ugh, Bush and his cronies have done enough damage when it comes to our educational system that I fear for our nation's children.

[Richardo]

7. See my post above - he *is* new at teaching, after a corporate career...

...so he'll take a while to come around.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi mellomel!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dennis4868]

6. How was he able to.....

forgive Bush for all the high crimes and misdemeanors he has committed the past 4 years (distorting intelligence, lying about the threat from Iraq, ignoring 911 warnings, transfering Aghanistan funds to iraq without congressional approval per a document called the Constitution, outing a CIA agent for political payback, no bid Halliburton contrcats, refusing to enforce environmental laws, lying to NYers about the air quality in NYC after 911, etc, etc, etc..). How do reasonable people who are voting for Bush put all of this aside? How do they do it?

[Richardo]

8. I don't know - I asked him how anyone could watch 5 minutes of the debates

and think Bush was qualified to be President. Again, he's not so much FOR Bush as AGAINST Kerry.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Public school teachers who don't value science are beyond me

Between the environment and stem cell, etc... I don't see how you can even give BUsh the benefit of the doubt. Not to mention his hagiographic/religious attitudes.

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. No disrepect intended but it

seems he only cares about himself. Glad he has a job and got a modest tax cut.

[Richardo]

14. You nailed it.

[AimeeMM]

12. Oh well, at least he didn't vote for Mel Martinez (Senate)

[Robert Oak]

15. get them to not vote in the Presidential box on the ballot

I've had many die hard Republicans who cannot bring themselves
to vote for Kerry, but they can't vote for Bush either, since
things like the deficit and many others.

Some have been voting and leaving the Presidential race blank.

Your vote on the rest still counts.

[Richardo]

16. That's what I've been telling people in Texas...

...if you can't cross over, just don't vote for President. Most are surprisingly receptive to that.

[librechik]

17. Man, I thought you were "quoting" George W 2004! (hilarious!)n/t

[Richardo]

19. That *is* pretty funny - I didn't read it that way at first...

...I hope that IS a quote from November 3rd... ;)

[Window]

28. So did I.

LOL! That's the reason I clicked on this thread. That is funny as hell.

[petepillow]

18. PLEASE DU this poll!!!!

http://www.wtap.com /

Sorry to post this here, but I don't have the priveleges yet to post new threads. This is a local Ohio station that covers the entire southeast quadrant of the state, plus a populous chunk of WVA. I used to live here, and it's killing me their current poll results.

If someone else can post this as it's own thread that'd be great! Thanks!

[hippiegranny]

30. done

Who are you going to, or who have your voted for?
President Bush 30.0 %
Sen. Kerry 66.1 %
Ralph Nader 0.5 %
Michael Badnarik 0.4 %
Undecided 1.4 %
Not Registered 0.9 %
Registered, but not voting 0.7 %

[Straight Shooter]

21. Voting for bush is not a rational decision

Therefore, rational arguments do not work.

Kind of reminds me of the last prayer of Jesus, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

:shrug:

[arewenotdemo]

23. while we're on the topic of asking absolution for any family

members voting Repuke tomorrow...

please forgive me for a whole nest of em in Ohio of all places.

There was nothing I could do about it. :cry:

[callous taoboy]

24. I'm sure your bro is a good guy,

but any teacher voting for bush deserves 30 kids per class, no resources to use, and serious cuts in his health insurance.

[Richardo]

25. HA! I'm sure he's on his way to all that...

'Callous Taoboys': one of my all time favorite DU names :thumbsup:

[callous taoboy]

27. Tell him Callous, a teacher himself, says

that there is no doubt in my mind that the Mepublicans (never too crazy about anything public and in close alliance with the far christian right) would love to see public education dry up and blow away. You say he likes his job?

[Cerridwen]

29. Thanks for your hard work and admirable try on behalf

of our country's freedom. Well done!

Now, remember all your arguments and "talking points" for the days, weeks, and months to come as we continue to teach and educate the U.S. public. Consider your work with your brother as good practice.

Again, THANK YOU, and Well Done!

:toast: :hi:

[Richardo]

31. Very kind words, nemdaille...

:hi:

All aboard for the final push tomorrow...got to get the Congress changed over too, y'know. :)

[Lorien]

32. PM me if you really want to get out an extra FL vote.

I have a way for you to do just that!